Diagnostic Questions & Answer from
Poem : KEEPING QUIET Class 12th CBSE English For 2021
Stanza I & II
(a) What advantage does the poet see in keeping quiet?
Ans. By keeping quiet the poet hopes that he will be able to live a fascinating moment and then realise the value of calm reflection and quiet introspection. The ! poet believes that by keeping quiet, we will be able to hear the voice of our conscience in these moments of silence.
(b)How would humanity benefit if people did not speak in any language?
Ans. When people sit still without speaking any language in quiet introspection, that moment, according to the poet will be an exotic one because this moment will help us to experience a strength of togetherness and a strange relationship with which humanity will bind itself.
(c) What does the poet mean when he says “do not move arms so much”?
Ans. Whenever man has used his arms he has caused undue harm to others. So the poet uses the phrase, ‘not to move our arms so much’ to emphasise the importance of physical inactivity to lessen destruction caused by man in the world.
Stanza III
(d) What would be an exotic moment for the poet?
Ans. The poet refers to the moment of stillness and quietness as an exotic moment because it will initiate peace and brotherhood. There would be no movement, no talk, no activity and consequently, no violence.
(e) Explain’ without rush without engines’
Ans. The expression are symbol of the Hubbub of the modern life. In the modern competitive world of advancement, there is a rat-race to outshine others. Life can be peaceful only if this thoughtless advancement' can be stopped.
Stanza IV
(f) What are ‘ Fishermen ‘ and ‘whales’ symbolic of ?
Ans. The fisherman symbolises man's indiscriminate exploitation of nature for his vested interest.
'Whale' symbolizes common masses and innocent people.
(g) What would happen in this moment of silence?
Ans. In this moment of silence, man will not harm nature, and both human beings and nature will get some time to attend to and recover from their wounds.
(h) Explain ‘man gathering ………………hurt hands’.
Ans. The man who gathers salt will be able to tend to his wounded hands for which he had no time earlier. Thus, both nature and humans will be able to recover from their wounds.
(i) What image does the poet create in the last 2 lines?
Ans. He creates the image of incessant suffering. In his effort to add comforts to his life he has paid no heed to the pain that caused him. So at the moment of silence, the person would analyse the harm he has done to himself.
Stanza V
(j) Whom does ‘those’ refer to
Ans. 'Those' refers to the politicians, the statesmen and the scientists who are involved in initiating and aggravating wars.
(k) What does the poet mean by ‘Victory with no survivors?
Ans. Man's activities are indeed heading him he is getting victorious but the war which a man is waging will soon turn the 'living planet' into a dead one and the war may be the victory of man's scientific knowledge but there would be no survivors to celebrate this victory.
(l) Clean clothes symbolise-
Ans. `Clean clothes' symbolize peace and change in one's perspective.
(m) What lesson will man learn when he just walks about with his brothers doing nothing?
Ans. When man out pause to all the green wars ( fresh wars) and wear clothes that dont have stains of blood of other human being, and walk with his brothers, man will get to know the true value of life and love. He will start loving people and try to stop the wars which leave no survivors.
Stanza VI
(n) What does the poet want when he says to not to be confused with total inactivity?
Ans. The poet wants man to come to a state of stillness and silence and introspect on how his present choice is impacting his wellbeing in the long term.
(o) What is life about?
Ans. 'Life is an ongoing process and thus is all about being up and doing'. Life cannot come to stand still under any circumstances.
(p) Explain ‘ I want no truck with death’.
Ans. The poet does not believe inactivity. Life is 'on going process' and so he does not want to associate it with death, or bring it to a dead end.
Stanza VII
(q) Who does ‘we’ refer to in the above lines?
Answer : ‘We’ refers to the human beings, who are always thinking about their own progress and advancement.
(r) What is man ‘ Singleminded’ about?
Ans. Man has targeted himself single mindedly towards scientific progress and advancement. He has so focused himself that pays no heed to the pros and cons of reckless progress and moves ahead without reflecting on the consequences.
(s) Why is ‘man’ sad?
Ans. Man’s sadness is formed out of his own actions and thoughts. It is quite ironical that man who understands so much fails to understand himself and his action. Rash actions prove harmful and disastruous. Man is the creator of all disasters. He is always threatening himself with death because of his thoughts and actions. This is the tragedy of his life.
(t) How will ‘Silence” help us?
Ans. The poet believes that by keeping quiet, we will be able to hear the voice of our conscience in these moments of silence.
So the poet uses the phrase, ‘not to move our arms so much’ to emphasise the importance of physical inactivity to lessen destruction caused by man in the world.
Stanza VIII
(u) What can Earth teach us?
Answer : The Earth teaches us how new life springs from dead remains, and how there is life under apparent stillness.
(~ Posted by Yugal )
